DON'T BE DUST-CONSCIOUS

JGIG · May 11, 2018

For me, as life happens, that means keeping the eternal perspective in mind. We walk through this life, and there are joys, trials, sickness, failures, triumphs, challenges, loss, gain . . . and Christ promises to be our Good Shepherd through all of it \o/ !

If we fail or fall short, He's not there to beat or condemn us, but to help pick us up, DUST us off, and by His Grace continue to lead us and teach us.

What is now is for a moment, but we have the Promise of Christ in us, the Hope of glory!

What a wonderful promise!

-JGIG

joaniemarie · May 11, 2018

JGIG said:

Amen. Especially when life gets extremely IMPOSSIBLE.... confusing and difficult. When we don't know what to do or even how to do what we know we should do. I'm amazed that God doesn't require us to have all the answers today. I used to rush around in panic mode when a decision needed to be made.

Instead of thinking about Jesus I can easily think about ME. How am "I" going to figure this out? How am "I" going to answer this problem? How am "I" going to manage??

Seriously the proverbial chicken with their head cut off. As if worrying and running around helped! What does help is what you wrote here about hope IN Jesus... the Hope of Glory

That kind of hope NEVER shames us. Romans 5:5

[SUP]4 [/SUP]And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of [SUP][a][/SUP]character (approved faith and [SUP][b][/SUP]tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] [SUP][c][/SUP]joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.
[SUP]
5 [/SUP]Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.
[SUP]
6 [/SUP]While we were yet in weakness [powerless to help ourselves], at the fitting time Christ died for (in behalf of) the ungodly.

When we were unsaved He saved us. Now that we are saved... how much MORE He provides for us in every way.

JGIG · May 11, 2018

joaniemarie said:

Amen. Especially when life gets extremely IMPOSSIBLE.... confusing and difficult. When we don't know what to do or even how to do what we know we should do. I'm amazed that God doesn't require us to have all the answers today. I used to rush around in panic mode when a decision needed to be made.

Instead of thinking about Jesus I can easily think about ME. How am "I" going to figure this out? How am "I" going to answer this problem? How am "I" going to manage??

Seriously the proverbial chicken with their head cut off. As if worrying and running around helped! What does help is what you wrote here about hope IN Jesus... the Hope of Glory

That kind of hope NEVER shames us. Romans 5:5

[SUP]4 [/SUP]And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of [SUP][a][/SUP]character (approved faith and [SUP][b][/SUP]tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] [SUP][c][/SUP]joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.
[SUP]
5 [/SUP]Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.
[SUP]
6 [/SUP]While we were yet in weakness [powerless to help ourselves], at the fitting time Christ died for (in behalf of) the ungodly.

When we were unsaved He saved us. Now that we are saved... how much MORE He provides for us in every way.

Romans 5 - One of the most awesome chapters in the Word!

So much Truth, foundation, and encouragement \o/!

-JGIG

peacefulbeliever · May 11, 2018

posthuman said:

heh i also want to understand better what God means by this.

He made man from dust, when he sinned, He said man will return to dust, and cursed the dust for man's sake.
He said He'd write on our hearts and minds. He became a curse to save us from sin.

and when He was here doing that, when people came to goad Him, asking who should throw the first hard piece of dust at a woman until the life went out of her and her body returned to dust, for sin, He didn't speak to them at first.
instead He stooped to write in the dust with His finger.

was He ignoring them or answering them?
answering what they said or what they meant to do by asking?

i get the idea that i could spend my whole life finding out what this means

and never be able to say it any better than He says it by the things He did.

I always thought Jesus was doodling in the dirt waiting for his Father to reveal to him the right thing to say!

notuptome · May 11, 2018

peacefulbeliever said:

I think Jesus was writing in the dust the sins of the accusers. That is why they left and there was no one to accuse her.

Creatures of dust attempting to wash ourselves in muddy water.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

MattforJesus · May 11, 2018

posthuman said:

Joh 8:6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
Joh 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
Joh 8:8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

And what did He write.

They all left Jesus one by one not wanting to believe in Him, but would rather accuse Him of not being of God.

Jer 17:13 O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.

LPT · May 11, 2018

Don't be skin-conscious I can agree with that indeed.

Nehemiah6 · May 12, 2018

peacefulbeliever said:

How did you miss putting "JUST KIDDING" at the end of that sentence?

Ralph- · May 12, 2018

notuptome said:

Yes, by way of reminding them of all the other laws there are in the law of Moses.

notuptome said:

If I remember the account accurately, the oldest started to leave first, maybe because they had the weightier guilt of a lifetime of more broken laws that required they be stoned to death too.

UnderGrace · May 12, 2018

I had the same thought

Nehemiah6 said:

joaniemarie · May 12, 2018

Ralph- said:

Over the years I've heard messages on this topic about what Jesus was writing in the dust. Like the other posters said., we won't know for sure until we get to heaven. But what you wrote here is what I've always been taught., and now since then I've had to admit there is no flat out answer. We can only suppose.

I heard that the older people in the crowd who were ready to stone the woman left first. But not sure about that now at all because I wasn't there and neither were the commentators.

Like you wrote here; maybe the older ones had the weightier guilt from a lifetime of breaking the laws. But you know., I've also seen Christians who are even more set in (stubborn) their sinful self righteous ways. It's a sad thing to see an old crabby Christian set in their ways un bending to the Holy Spirit and engulfed in religious dogma from a life of self righteousness.

So it can go either way depending on the person involved. And none of us can know that from over 2000 yrs later. This just shows me even more the NEED for the Holy Spirit to interprete these many Bible truths and principles. And it also gives me confidence that He always will.

I find it so interesting to read posts from different people here and how we have been taught much of the same things. They are good and right teachings but they are not the only possibilities for the interpretation of those verses. What do you think?

Ralph- · May 12, 2018

My favorite 'dust' verse:

"the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. 14For He Himself knows our frame;
He is mindful that we are but dust."-Psalm 103:13-14

It's comforting to know God knows we are but dust and takes that into consideration when he looks on us in our frailties and short comings. I mean for those who acknowledge that we are but dust and aren't arrogant and sure of themselves. He is quick to answer the humble(d) soul.

"15For thus says the high and exalted One
Who lives forever, whose name is Holy,
“I dwell on a high and holy place,
And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit
In order to revive the spirit of the lowly
And to revive the heart of the contrite."-Isaiah 57:15

joaniemarie · May 12, 2018

joaniemarie said:

Another thought that comforts and lifts me UP from the dust is that God never humiliates us because of JESUS gift of righteousness to us. He wants us to be humble and that is not about humiliation. God will not humiliate His children. That comes from the world., flesh and devil.

The enemy seeks to humiliate us and get us to look at ourselves and our own righteousness. When we fall into that trap., we open ourselves up to lies and confusion and sin. When our eyes get off of Jesus and onto ourselves., we are defeated.

Ralph- · May 12, 2018

joaniemarie said:

I agree, we simply don't know. But together we can be blessed as we talk about them. Matt had a good Jeremiah reference that fits very well, but I'll have to digest it a little bit. But it's this kind of thing that leads us to further understanding.

One thing's for sure. The people there were convicted by what he wrote. And it caused them to drop their stones and not carry out the just and commanded sentence for her sin. That much we know and that's what we can take away from it for sure. Only a spiritual moron with his own load of sin punishable by death would dare demand the immediate, lawful death of a fellow sinner.

But that does not leave the law demanding death broken or unfulfilled. Jesus died the just death for sin commanded in the law. He is the 'eye for eye, tooth for tooth, life for life' that God's justice demands. He is the fulfillment of the law. He found a wise and powerful way to keep the holy justice of his law and keep us alive at the same time. All wise, all powerful, he is to be praised.

But not to derail. As far as your OP, the sooner we recognize the frailty of our sinful, cursed flesh--the dust of the earth-- the sooner we will flee to the Lord and find refuge and safety and deliverance in him in ALL of our circumstances and situations.

"He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers."-Psalm 1:4

Promise!

notuptome · May 12, 2018

Ralph- said:

Scripture says that she was taken in the very act of adultery. How would these guys know that if they had not had a part in the very act with her? Maybe not in that very instance but at sometime in the recent past.

Their self righteousness was being exposed and the older ones were seeing how embarrassing this was going to get. It just took a little longer for the younger ones to catch on.

Legalists get real smart too late.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

Ralph- · May 12, 2018

notuptome said:

Probably the same way that Israel knew that David's sons were sleeping with David's wives.

Because of the nature of that sin you aren't likely to witness the offense with your own eyes. In Western law you only had to show compelling evidence of adultery to get a divorce on those grounds (i.e. she was alone in this place for this long with this guy, etc). Now, of course, you don't need a reason to get a divorce.

UnderGrace · May 12, 2018

Wow Ralphie,

Very powerful!!

Stopped my breathe for a few seconds ...

Ralph- said:

I agree, we simply don't know. But together we can be blessed as we talk about them. Matt had a good Jeremiah reference that fits very well, but I'll have to digest it a little bit. But it's this kind of thing that leads us to further understanding.

One thing's for sure. The people there were convicted by what he wrote. And it caused them to drop their stones and not carry out the just and commanded sentence for her sin. That much we know and that's what we can take away from it for sure. Only a spiritual moron with his own load of sin punishable by death would dare demand the immediate, lawful death of a fellow sinner.

But that does not leave the law demanding death broken or unfulfilled. Jesus died the just death for sin commanded in the law. He is the 'eye for eye, tooth for tooth, life for life' that God's justice demands. He is the fulfillment of the law. He found a wise and powerful way to keep the holy justice of his law and keep us alive at the same time. All wise, all powerful, he is to be praised.

But not to derail. As far as your OP, the sooner we recognize the frailty of our sinful, cursed flesh--the dust of the earth-- the sooner we will flee to the Lord and find refuge and safety and deliverance in him in ALL of our circumstances and situations.

"He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers."-Psalm 1:4

Promise!

joaniemarie · May 12, 2018

UnderGrace said:

Agree UnderGrace.

Jesus met every single requirement of the law. There remains no more sacrifice for sins today. This fact is one I really need to digest every day. There is NOTHING we can do to be more loved., more righteous., more clean., more holy., more sinless in the sight of God.

Being born again., not of corruptible seed but incorruptible.... 1 Peter 1:23

[SUP]23 [/SUP]having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of [SUP][b][/SUP]God, which liveth and abideth.

His seed remains in us because of Jesus. We are born again., made new. Have a new spirit man. Saints..sons.., heirs...joint heirs with Christ. Romans 8:17
[SUP]
16 [/SUP]The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God: [SUP]17 [/SUP]and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him.
[SUP]
18 [/SUP]For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward.

Not based on what we have done or will do but totally based on the finished work of Jesus on the cross. So when we see the dust of this life when it all looks hopless and makes no sense., we must go to Jesus and see who we are IN HIM. Without HIM we can do nothing....see nothing., be nothing. AND THAT IS GOOD NEWS!!!

UnderGrace · May 12, 2018

I was about to give up on CC altogether, because of some horrible nastiness recently but this is what brings me back what you and Ralphie have written has put my attention back on the only person who is Worthy, Jesus.

His finished work is the source of all comfort and joy.

... Beautiful and uplifting

joaniemarie said:

Agree UnderGrace.

Jesus met every single requirement of the law. There remains no more sacrifice for sins today. This fact is one I really need to digest every day. There is NOTHING we can do to be more loved., more righteous., more clean., more holy., more sinless in the sight of God.

Being born again., not of corruptible seed but incorruptible.... 1 Peter 1:23

[SUP]23 [/SUP]having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of [SUP][b][/SUP]God, which liveth and abideth.

His seed remains in us because of Jesus. We are born again., made new. Have a new spirit man. Saints..sons.., heirs...joint heirs with Christ. Romans 8:17
[SUP]
16 [/SUP]The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God: [SUP]17 [/SUP]and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him.
[SUP]
18 [/SUP]For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward.

Not based on what we have done or will do but totally based on the finished work of Jesus on the cross. So when we see the dust of this life when it all looks hopless and makes no sense., we must go to Jesus and see who we are IN HIM. Without HIM we can do nothing....see nothing., be nothing. AND THAT IS GOOD NEWS!!!

UnderGrace · May 12, 2018

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to joaniemarie again.

I owe you one!!

Thank you always for your uplifting messages!!

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